More Lore

When The Lore Defeated The Law

David Allen Green | Law And Policy Blog | 1st January 2025

Until the 1700s, the English legal and political establishments enforced a calendar in which the 25th March was the first day of the year. Most official instruments, including laws, contracts and wills, reflected this. But ordinary people just kept celebrating the new year's arrival on 1st January, and in 1750 the officials gave up and passed an Act of Parliament making this "lore" official law (600 words)

Share this on X , Facebook , Linkedin or Bluesky

Nomido

Nomido is the Browser's daily word game. Play today's before it's gone!

H5N1: More Than You Wanted To Know

Scott Alexander | Astral Codex Ten | 1st January 2025

Enter any conversation about the possibility of a global bird flu pandemic with confidence after reading this primer on the history of influenzas, the pathogens involved in H5N1, and its potential impact on our lives and health. It's already a pandemic in birds and cows, and the writer forecasts a 5 per cent chance of a sustained pandemic in the human population in the next year (4,500 words)

Share this on X , Facebook , Linkedin or Bluesky